February 27th, 2007, 19:19
Well, compared to British tourists, who according to Wowwow's cut and paste in another thread suffer most from "traffic related" problems in Thailand, it appears German tourists have more exciting holidays, often exacerbating their heart conditions, and, unlike Brits, don't smoke as much pot or other drugs.
Feature: Unprepared tourists can pay heavily for their holiday
By Bernd Kubisch, dpa
Some tourists themselves, whether through cluenessness, carelessness or stupidity, make their Thai holiday a disaster and wind up in hospital, in prison or even dead.
Thailand is a top tourist destination, and no force majeure seems able to stop that - not even the 2004 tsunami, nor the bomb blasts in Bangkok around the turn of 2006.
But the list of pitfalls is long. It includes overindulgence in alcohol and sex, and inadequate insurance coverage for accidents or illness.
In addition, many tourists are unaware that smoking marijuana on the beach or in their hotel room is just as illegal as overstaying their visa.
Visitors who break the law and fail to pay the ensuing fine will end up in jail faster than they think. And those lacking funds cannot expect a gift of money from their country's diplomatic mission in Thailand.
Bangkok-based foreign diplomats and physicians in tourist centres such as Bangkok, Phuket, Ko Samui, Chang Mai and Pattaya are often astounded by tourists' carelessness.
"A lot of people are less inhibited while on holiday than they are at home," noted Olivier Meyer, a Swiss physician who practices in Pattaya.
Older men with fragile health are particularly at risk.
"Someone with heart problems who thoughtlessly plunges into Thailand's pleasures is endangering his life," Meyer said.
His colleagues agree - the heat on the beach, several shots of hard liquor, a Viagra and then vigorous sex with a bar girl is "a life-threatening cocktail."
Heart and circulatory failure, and diseases common in old age generally, are the most frequent causes of death among German tourists, according to the German embassy in Bangkok. Traffic accidents, often involving motorcycles, come next.
Some 160 Germans died in Thailand last year, many of them because of careless behaviour. The figure was about 120 in 2000, when fewer Germans travelled to the south-east Asian kingdom of palm-fringed beaches, Buddhist temples and elephant parks.
The German Foreign Ministry in Berlin said that its embassy in Bangkok registered about 120 arrests of German tourists every year, usually because they committed fraud or remained in the country longer than permitted.
Visitors spending more than four weeks in Thailand require a visa. Missing deadlines and failing to pay fines can result in arrest and deportation.
"We urge people to read and follow our safety tips on Thailand and other countries before their trip," a German Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
The tips are constantly updated, as they were for Thailand in early January following a series of deadly bomb blasts in Bangkok.
Overall, however, tour operators regard Thailand as a safe destination, especially its traditional resorts. Attacks on tourists are seldom.
Motorcycle rentals are probably cheaper at Thailand's popular tourist spots than anywhere else.
Motorcycles with engine sizes of 700 cubic centimetres and more can be had for less than 20 euros (27 dollars0 per day. Mopeds cost as little as 5 euros per day.
Rental firms often do not ask to see a driving licence, and the vehicles are rarely insured, so tourists carry the full risk, often without knowing it. And sometimes they have no health insurance that covers them while abroad.
Helmetless holidaymakers wearing T-shirts and shorts, their hair blowing in the wind, can be seen zipping along the shore on motorcycles, particularly in Pattaya, sometimes even with a bottle of beer in their hand.
Motorcycle rental firms also do good business in lesser-known places such as Hua Hin and on the island of Koh Tao.
"You're not so reckless in Europe. Why are you here,?" Thai tour guide Veerasak Cham asked.
The Bangkok-based Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) wants all tourists to obey the country's laws and customs.
"Fortunately, only a fraction of our guests get into trouble," said Satit Nillwongse, executive director of TAT's Europe department. "For people who look out for their health and safety on trips just as they do at home, the risk in Thailand is very small."
Internet: www.tourismthailand.org (http://www.tourismthailand.org).
Feature: Unprepared tourists can pay heavily for their holiday
By Bernd Kubisch, dpa
Some tourists themselves, whether through cluenessness, carelessness or stupidity, make their Thai holiday a disaster and wind up in hospital, in prison or even dead.
Thailand is a top tourist destination, and no force majeure seems able to stop that - not even the 2004 tsunami, nor the bomb blasts in Bangkok around the turn of 2006.
But the list of pitfalls is long. It includes overindulgence in alcohol and sex, and inadequate insurance coverage for accidents or illness.
In addition, many tourists are unaware that smoking marijuana on the beach or in their hotel room is just as illegal as overstaying their visa.
Visitors who break the law and fail to pay the ensuing fine will end up in jail faster than they think. And those lacking funds cannot expect a gift of money from their country's diplomatic mission in Thailand.
Bangkok-based foreign diplomats and physicians in tourist centres such as Bangkok, Phuket, Ko Samui, Chang Mai and Pattaya are often astounded by tourists' carelessness.
"A lot of people are less inhibited while on holiday than they are at home," noted Olivier Meyer, a Swiss physician who practices in Pattaya.
Older men with fragile health are particularly at risk.
"Someone with heart problems who thoughtlessly plunges into Thailand's pleasures is endangering his life," Meyer said.
His colleagues agree - the heat on the beach, several shots of hard liquor, a Viagra and then vigorous sex with a bar girl is "a life-threatening cocktail."
Heart and circulatory failure, and diseases common in old age generally, are the most frequent causes of death among German tourists, according to the German embassy in Bangkok. Traffic accidents, often involving motorcycles, come next.
Some 160 Germans died in Thailand last year, many of them because of careless behaviour. The figure was about 120 in 2000, when fewer Germans travelled to the south-east Asian kingdom of palm-fringed beaches, Buddhist temples and elephant parks.
The German Foreign Ministry in Berlin said that its embassy in Bangkok registered about 120 arrests of German tourists every year, usually because they committed fraud or remained in the country longer than permitted.
Visitors spending more than four weeks in Thailand require a visa. Missing deadlines and failing to pay fines can result in arrest and deportation.
"We urge people to read and follow our safety tips on Thailand and other countries before their trip," a German Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
The tips are constantly updated, as they were for Thailand in early January following a series of deadly bomb blasts in Bangkok.
Overall, however, tour operators regard Thailand as a safe destination, especially its traditional resorts. Attacks on tourists are seldom.
Motorcycle rentals are probably cheaper at Thailand's popular tourist spots than anywhere else.
Motorcycles with engine sizes of 700 cubic centimetres and more can be had for less than 20 euros (27 dollars0 per day. Mopeds cost as little as 5 euros per day.
Rental firms often do not ask to see a driving licence, and the vehicles are rarely insured, so tourists carry the full risk, often without knowing it. And sometimes they have no health insurance that covers them while abroad.
Helmetless holidaymakers wearing T-shirts and shorts, their hair blowing in the wind, can be seen zipping along the shore on motorcycles, particularly in Pattaya, sometimes even with a bottle of beer in their hand.
Motorcycle rental firms also do good business in lesser-known places such as Hua Hin and on the island of Koh Tao.
"You're not so reckless in Europe. Why are you here,?" Thai tour guide Veerasak Cham asked.
The Bangkok-based Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) wants all tourists to obey the country's laws and customs.
"Fortunately, only a fraction of our guests get into trouble," said Satit Nillwongse, executive director of TAT's Europe department. "For people who look out for their health and safety on trips just as they do at home, the risk in Thailand is very small."
Internet: www.tourismthailand.org (http://www.tourismthailand.org).